ARCADIA CA (CelebrityAccess) — Neil Papiano, an entertainment attorney who represented high profile clients such as Jimmy Nederlander, Sr. and the Nederlander Organization, died on February 14th. He was 86.
An obituary provided by the Nederlander Concerts said that he passed in Arcadia, California from complications associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.
A native of Salt Lake City, Papiano received an athletic scholarship to Stanford University and graduated with his B.A. and M.A. degrees in 1957. After he received his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law in 1961, he joined Oscar Trippett at the predecessor law firm to Iverson, Yoakum, Papiano & Hatch to which he would become the Managing Partner until his retirement in 2014.
Over the course of his career, he represented numerous notable figures in the world of sports and entertainment, including Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant, Joan Collins, Walter Matthau, and Sondra Locke, Charlie O. Finley, Steve Garvey, and Willie Davis.
Corporate clients included American Airlines, Lockheed-Martin Corporation, DFS Duty-Free Shops, Bridgestone-Firestone Tires, U.S. Steel, Bristol Myers the Coca-Cola Company, and other business entities which he represented in corporate and civil litigation.
As well, he acted sometimes as attorney for, but also often counseled and assisted Los Angeles City and County officials, as well as State officials, including President Reagan when he was Governor.
Papiano was on the Board of Directors or Board of Trustees for several organizations, including the L.A. Civic Light Opera, the L.A. Performing Arts Council, Orthopaedic Hospital, and American University in Washington, D.C.
He also served on the Board of Advisors for the Alzheimer’s Association of Los Angeles after he was personally affected by the disease with the los of his mother.
A memorial service will be held on February 24, 2019, at 2:00 pm at Cabot and Sons Mortuary, 27 Chestnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91103.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association of Los Angeles in Neil’s name.
